Opsarius Malabaricus

📖 Overview

Opsarius Malabaricus (Opsarius malabaricus), first described by Jerdon, 1849 is a small fish in the family Cyprinidae (order Cypriniformes). Adults typically reach 9.10 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal soft rays: 17. Barilius malabaricus can be separated from B. ardens by having a unique color pattern consisting of a single or a double row of spots along the length of the body, the first row with 9-13 round or oval bluish-green spots 1-2 scales high and 1-2 scales wide and the second row, if present, with 3-4 smaller spots reaching up to the anal-fin origin (vs. a row of 7-9 large, vertically-elongate, bluish-green blotches 4-6 scales high and 2-3 scales wide along the length of the body, of which in large adults the first three blotches are fragmented into a smaller row of blotches). It differs from B. ardens by having 5+4+2 (vs. 5+4+3) teeth on fifth ceratobranchial. It can be distinguished from B. canarensis and B. bakeri by having 11½ (vs. 10½) branched dorsal-fin rays and 14½-15½ (vs. 13½) branched anal-fin rays, and having the dorsal and anal fins margined with bright orange (vs. broadly margined with white). It further differs from B. canarensis and B. bakeri by having well-defined gill rakers (vs. fleshy, rudimentary gill rakers) .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Opsarius Malabaricus is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Opsarius Malabaricus.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute